Voodoo2s

The Voodoo2 is a graphics processing unit (GPU) developed by 3dfx Interactive and released in 1998. It was the successor to the popular Voodoo Graphics chipset and represented a significant advancement in 3D graphics acceleration for personal computers. The Voodoo2 introduced dual-texturing capabilities, allowing for more complex and realistic visual effects in games and applications. This meant that two texture maps could be applied to a single polygon in one pass, a considerable improvement over the single-texturing capabilities of its predecessors.

Key features of the Voodoo2 included its use of SLI (Scan-Line Interleave) technology, which enabled two Voodoo2 cards to be linked together for increased performance. This dual-card setup was a novel concept at the time and offered a substantial boost in frame rates and visual fidelity for demanding applications. The Voodoo2 also featured hardware support for various advanced rendering techniques, such as mipmapping and texture filtering, which contributed to smoother and more detailed graphics.

Despite its impressive capabilities, the Voodoo2 was eventually superseded by newer technologies. However, it remains a significant milestone in the history of PC graphics, laying the groundwork for many of the visual advancements we see in modern GPUs. Its introduction marked a period where dedicated 3D accelerator cards became essential for serious gamers and graphics professionals.